Northumbria student's street art course results in striking campus mural

A Northumbria University student has designed and delivered his own course in street art, culminating in a vibrant new mural at the heart of the University’s Newcastle City Campus.

Final year Graphic Design student Adam Graham completed a year-long Student in Residence placement with Converge Northumbria, which included carefully planning and delivering 'There Will Be Paint' – a short course exploring spray painting and street art. The programme saw six Converge students collaborate with Adam to create the eye-catching artwork now displayed on the side of Northumbria Students' Union building.

Supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Converge Northumbria works to offer free educational opportunities on campus to those aged 18 or over who experience challenges associated with their mental health. Based in the heart of the University, the bespoke courses and workshops give both Northumbria students and Converge students the chance to work with staff to learn, create, challenge and inspire.

For Adam, the Student in Residence placement gave him the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in community art whilst completing his sandwich year. Working alongside Converge Northumbria staff, he became fully integrated into the team – attending meetings, networking events, and learning about inclusive practice.

"The whole experience really helped me gain new skills and focus on what I want in the future," explained Adam, who is neurodivergent and chose to study at Northumbria because of the opportunities to work on live design briefs which are part of the Graphic Design BA Hons programme. "I want to be a community muralist, working with people and breaking down barriers. I’ve always felt supported at Northumbria and this placement with Converge has really helped me gain confidence and empowered me as an artist."

Initially inspired by renowned street artist Banksy during visits to Bristol where many of his artworks can be found throughout the city, Adam's passion for street art grew through volunteer work with the arts charity Art Shape, which is based in Gloucestershire near his home town.

During the four-week course Adam ran with Converge, students explored the history of graffiti before mind-mapping and developing collaborative designs. The final mural incorporates elements from everyone's ideas, showcasing Adam’s leadership and the creative talents of the Converge community.

Director of Converge Northumbria, Ally Hunter-Byron, explained: "The Student in Residence placement allows students to use their degree and learning to support our work. The point is that students are so integral to Converge – they learn from each other and help break down stigma around different student populations.

“We’re all so proud of Adam and everything he has achieved so far. We can’t wait to see what comes next for him.”

After three days of painting, the finished mural now stands as a testament to collaborative creativity and inclusive education at Northumbria. The project was supported by Northumbria Students' Union, Northumbria’s Technical Resource Centre and The National Lottery Community Fund.

Experiential learning is a cornerstone of Northumbria’s strategy to power an inclusive economy – helping to place graduates in highly skilled jobs across the North East and beyond. The University has built a strong reputation for working with industry partners to offer high-quality, real-world learning experiences that enhance career opportunities – especially for students from backgrounds without ready access to professional networks. By continually expanding its provision of experiential learning, Northumbria aims to equip all students with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.

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Images show Northumbria University Graphic Design student, Adam Graham, with Director of Converge Northumbria, Ally Hunter-Byron and Converge Northumbria student Mark Clemmett.